My blog is mostly about wildlife, particularly birds, walking, days out, all growing things and anything else that comes to mind.

To view pictures in larger format, just click on any picture for the picture gallery....

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Strange orange light in the sky..

Today as dawn broke, the sun also stopped being shy and shone brilliantly.. and no, I'm not hallucinating; least I don't think I am!

I'd arranged to meet Hugh at the London Wetland Centre, so was pleased it wasn't bucketing down for a change.

Before I left, and just after the sun arose, the early morning birds were around in the garden as usual and, in addition to about 15 goldfinches, the usual mob of Ring-necked Parakeets were around. As the light wasn't too bad I managed a picture or two of some of them.

In the apple tree - best feeding station for miles around..

and when you arrive in the garden, you perch on a branch of the Eucalyptus tree.

So off to Barnes. This Great-Crested Grebe obliged us whilst having a fishy meal..

followed by a wash and brush up and...

a quick drink..

before having a look to see what else was around!

Later on, from the Peacock tower, something had sent up a large(ish) flock of Lapwings...

The sun then disappeared behind threatening grey clouds, so we decided a cuppa was a better option.

On the way back, a Mute Swan landed on the water near us.

The Bittern was in its usual spot, but unseen by us. When asking when it had last been seen, the reply was "about one and a half hours". We headed for the cafe....

11 comments:

Hi Tricia,I don't even know which set I prefer the ring-necked parakeet or the grebe one! They are both of them gorgeous sets that i would have like to take... but tell me where is the amazing orange sky light ;-)

The Ring-necked Parakeets haven't made it here yet, but they do look rather exotic, and different, hanging on those feeders. It must cost you a fortune to fill all those.Good catch of the Grebe and fish too.

Fun birding! Those parakeets are a crack up. It must not get too cold for them in your part of the world. There are a few flocks of parrots loose in the bay area too. Kind of startling to see them at first!

Hi Janine. Thanks. The Eucalyptus is a very tall tree which appeals to the Paras!

Hi Julia - thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I think they've adjusted to the cold over the years and we don't get much extreme cold. They are surprising to see when it's not their natural habitat isn't it..

About Me

A lover of wildlife and birds in particular and a keen photographer
who's learning all the time!
For me there's nothing better than the great outdoors and escaping into
it as often as I can; even if it's only a walk very locally. I love the
sea and water in any form. There's something magical about reflections
in very still water.